Naval-war-game apparatus.



J. H. HAMMOND, JR. NAVAL WAR GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED no.4, 1911.

1,023,375. Patented Apr.16,1912.

JOHNWHAYS HAMMOND, JR., GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

NAVAIrWAR-GAME APPARATUS.

. Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

Application filed August 4, 1911. Serial No. 642,319.

To all whom ztmay concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HAYS HAM- MOND, Jr., a. citizen of the United States, residing at Gloucester, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Naval-\Var-Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The primary objectof the invention is to provide a game in which all of the maneu vers incident to modern naval warfare may be simulated under conditions which approximate the varying conditions of actual service.

The various other objects of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following description of one form of apparatus embodying the invention, which consists in the new and novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed;

In the accompanying drawings is shown a plan view of a board or table on which the game is played with the different vessels indicated thereon and the different land configurations and meteorological conditions indicated thereon.

. The board or table 1 comprises the two sides which are preferably symmetrical with respect to each other. and each side comprises a land area having a city 2 thereon, preferably located on an inclosed bay and protected by'a plurality of forts 3 having a ,predetermined effective value with respect to gun strength and gun range. Each city is also preferably protected by a third fort- 4 likewise having a predetermined effective capacity. A neutral land area or island 5 subject to capture by the opposing players, is arranged preferably intermediate the two cities. Said land area has a canal 6 provided. therethrough, permitting the passage of vessels, and 18 also provided with a fort having a predetermined range of effective operation indicated in any suitable manner as by a square surrounding said neutral area. The space between the land areas surrounding the neutral territory represents water. and is divided into a plurality of squares by longitudinal and transverse lines, and a plurality of fog areas or belts are represented .thereon by any suitable means as a different color. ,A fog area is located adjacent to each of the forts.

Each player is provided with a fleet of vessels which preferably comprises battleships 8, armored cruisers 9, protected cruisers 10, colliers 11 and torpedo boats 12. The battleships are allowed to more two squares in any direction, and have a gun range of two squares on the rectangular lines of the squares, but a gun range of only one square diagonally. The armored cruisers have a range of movement of'four squares and a gun range of one square either rectangularly or diagonally. The protected cruisers have a range of movement of six squares and a gun range of one square either rectangnlarly or diagonally. The colliers have a range of movement of four squares, but are not supposed to carry guns at all. The torpedo boats have a movement of exactly six squares, and are effective only in the fog areas. One battleship is supposed to be the equivalent in etfectivc capacity of two armored cruisers. and one armored cruiser is assumed to be the equivalent in effective capacity of two protected cruisers. The forts protecting the cities on either side and the fort in the neutral territory' have an effective capacity with respect to guns and range of one battleship. this range being indicated by suitable lines H. The forts 011 the main land areas have an effective capacity equivalent to one battleship, and a gun range indicated by two heavy lines 15. Any piece except a torpedo boat may overpower a collier.

Thefieets of the opposing players are supposed to'be located behind the base lines 16. The fleets maneuver on the rectangular lines. but the fleet of each player must be accompanied by a collier in order to advance beyond a pointindicated by the lines 17 unless the neutral territory is in possession of the player of such advancing fleet. in whichcase no collier is necessary.

The general object of the game is either to capture the opponents town or to annihilate his fleet or to get him in such a position that he is blockaded froniusing his vessels. The vessels of each player may be arranged in any formation desired and the choice of moves arranged in any suitable manner. In attacking the neutral territory itwill be deemed that the attacking vessels are within range of the fort thereon only when they touch or are within the lines 14. Only a battleship or a force having the effective capacity of a battleship'may rest upon or cross this line, as an less force shall be considered to have been estroyed by the fort. The first player crossing the line shall be considered to have captured and to be in possession of the neutral territory and of the fort. If any vessel of superior power moves within range of a vessel of inferior power, and such inferior vessel does not thereupon retreat or is not reinforced, then such inferior vessel shall be forfeited to the player of the vessel of superior power. In the same way if a collection of vessels shall come within the gun range of an opposing fleet of superior power and the player of the inferior fleet shall be unable to bring up suflicient reinforcements to balance the power of the superior fleet, then the player of the inferior fleet shall forfeit all of his; vessels excepting only such vessel as he may elect to remove out of gun range of the superior fleet. Inmoving rectangularly on the board a vessel of inferior power cannot pass the bows of a vessel of superior power with in gun range, but vessels of equal power may pass each other within range. If a collier is accompanyin a fleet which is advancing to the attack 0 the-opposing party it shall not be distantmore than ten squares from the most advanced ship in the squadron, and if the collier be captured it will then be necessary for each ship of such squadron to be moved behind the line 17 in succession.

A torpedo boat is effective to capture any vessel of the enemysfleet which may be m, a fog area and which is located at a distance of exactly six moves rectangularly from the torpedo boat, it'being understood that the said six squares may be made in any desired direction,'but the torpedo boat can not strike at any point more or less than six-squares.

In my improved game apparatus practically all of the conditions which may arise in actual naval warfare are provided for, and the various problems ofstrategy which arise in warfare may be worked out.

It is obvious that a great many different combinations of plays may be provided for by means of this apparatus, by varying-the rules with respect to the movements and the supposed gun ranges of the respective fleets, and the conditions under which attack and defense may be made.

ing a plurality of land areas. provided with forts, one of said areas being intermediate the others, a plurality of fog areas, one of said fog areas being adjacent to each of said forts, fleets of vessels, each comprising war vessels, colliers and torpedo boats, said war vessels having different ranges of movement and different ranges of action and said torpedo boats being effective only in fog areas.

2. A game apparatus comprising a board divided into a plurality of squares and having a plurality of land areas provided with forts, one of said land areas being arranged intermediatethe others, a plurality of fog areas and fleets of vessels, each comprising war vessels, colliers and torpedo boats.

3. A game apparatus comprising a board divided into a plurality of squares and having a plurality of land areas provided with towns and forts, said forts having a predetermined. eflective capacity and range, and

one of said forts being intermediate the otliers, a plurality of fog areas, fleets of vessels each comprislng war vessels and torpedo boats, said war vessels having different ranges of movement and said torpedo boats being effective only in the fog areas.

4. 'A game apparatus comprising a board divided into a plurality of squares and hava ing a-plurality of forts on opposite sides of the board, said forts each having a predetermined efl'ective capacity and range, a

neutral fort subject to attack and capture, a

plurality of fog areas, one fog area being adjacent to said neutral fort and another area being adjacent to one of the opposing forts, fleets of vessels each comprislng war vessels, colliers and torpedo boats, said war vessels having different ranges of movement and diflerent effective values, and said torpedo boats being effective only in the fog areas.

This specification signed and witnessed this 26th day of July, A. D., 1911.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR. Signed in the presence 'of WM. F. WHI'ITAKER, AMBROSE L. OSHEA. 

